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Belgrave's games, music, and dancing with the assistance of the Italian band, and finally the singing of the Gospel Hymns. The Blanchita was prepared for her voyage as soon as she came off from the shore, coaled for the round trip, supplied with cooked provisions, though the galley was available, and with everything that could possibly be needed.
Both ships passed the ordeal of the examination, and the boats closed up. They were manned by all sorts of people, and they were in all sorts of craft. The captain said that most of them were Chinese sampans, and the boatmen were of the same nation. "There comes the Blanchita!" exclaimed Felix, who was walking about the deck with his spy-glass under his arm.
Eng declared that the Dyaks were honest, and even in Sarawak were never known to steal anything, though the Malays and Chinamen were given to pilfering. The crowd of men, women, and children gathered on the shore had looked the Blanchita over with the closest attention while the Americans were looking them over.
A heavy thunder-shower made the evening very gloomy; but the canvas roof and curtains of the Blanchita fully protected the party from the rain, which fell in sheets for full two hours. The next morning when the party turned out, the weather was as pleasant as they could desire, and the air was cleared and freshened by the shower.
"And here we are likely to remain, unless we back down stream till we find a place wide enough to turn in." The obstruction which closed the passage of the river against the Blanchita was a bridge of dead pines which the current had brought down, and they had caught at the sides till they formed the barrier.
"Take the wheel, Achang," continued the captain. The sampan was sent ashore to cast off the fasts. The river at the town is over four hundred feet wide, and deep enough in almost any part for the Blanchita. As soon as the lines were hauled in, the captain rang one bell, and Felipe started the engine. The helmsman headed the boat for the middle of the stream, and the captain rang the speed-bell.
The captain of the yacht ordered the engineer to reduce his speed to the ordinary rate, though the sail was not furled. Between the steam and the wind the Blanchita ran ahead of the Delhi. The sheet was slacked off as far as it could be without permitting the sail to shake, and the two craft kept well together the rest of the day, passing Great Natuna Island at four in the afternoon.
As Wales had suggested, the crocodile had changed his course, and was now headed directly for the Blanchita. He seemed to have concluded that there was no safety for him in flight, and he had decided to fight. "Your first shot, Louis," said Scott, who had not even taken up his rifle, as if he thought there would be no chance for him after the millionaire had fired.
After a walk of another hour they reached the Dyak house, and the whole population of the place followed them to the shore. They were filled with wonder and admiration at the sight of the Blanchita, and went off to her in their sampans.
Achang wanted something to do; and he was given the berth of second mate, and as such he served in charge of the captain's watch. Everything worked as smoothly on board of the Blanchita as though she had been in commission for years, for there was not a green hand in the cabin or forecastle.
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